Copenhagen Zoo kills four healthy lions

Zoo not concerned that putting down four lions will create the same uproar as one giraffe

A lion male, a lioness and two younger females met their fate at the Copenhagen Zoo yesterday (Photo: Colurbox)

March 25, 201415:27

by AJ

Four of the lions who ate the remains of Marius the Giraffe in February were euthanised by injection at the Copenhagen Zoo on Monday to make room for a new generation.

The generation shift spelled the end for a 16-year-old male lion, a lioness of nearly the same age, and two younger females.

Not afraid of Marius scandalMedia around the world responded critically when Copenhagen Zoo dissected a giraffe named Marius in front of schoolchildren in February, but the zoo doesn't fear a similar uproar after killing the lions.

"I think people are more enlightened after Marius," the head of the zoo, Steffen Stræde, told Ritzau news bureau.

"Marius hasn't made us the least bit afraid, because what we are doing is the most correct thing to do."

Stræde maintained that the lions had to be put down, partly to avoid inbreeding between the two young lions and their father.

A new three-year-old lion male will be introduced to the pride in a few days.